Solving real-world design problems

 Our BIM helps the designer gain valuable insight by allowing users to construct ‘smart’ and ‘computable’ 3D model of the project,” says Sunil MK, Head – AEC, Autodesk, India and SAARC
Autodesk is one of the global pioneers in 2D and 3D design and engineering software. With construction and infrastructure sector blooming, Autodesk eyes the Indian market. In an interview with ACE Update, Sunil MK explains how design and engineering software will play their role in the development of construction and infrastructure industry.
Indian construction scenarioConstruction is one of the most significant contributors to the GDP of a nation witnessing massive investments. However, the industry in India has been traditionally slow to adapt to global trends. But this is witnessing a gradual change as India’s construction sector is forecasted to grow at 7-8 per cent each year over the next decade. With the new government, the country is expected to see increased economic growth and the removal of barriers hindering the growth of the industry. It is estimated that more than $1 trillion would be spent on construction and infrastructure over the next 3-5 years. Also, there would be increased investments in industrial projects by the government. The total construction market in India for fiscal year ending March 2014 was $157 billion, an increase of $4 billion over FY2013.
Autodesk has pioneered design technologies, such as BIM (Building Information Modelling), which help the company derive cost and time savings in mega-projects, while ensuring sustainability. The government’s focus to build smart cities will provide further impetus to the growth in adoption of BIM solutions in India.
Value additionThe growth is symbiotic. The growth in the infrastructure and construction industry will definitely add to its growth as a company. Architecture, engineering and construction are the three major verticals for Autodesk in terms of revenue generation. The construction sector is an essential component of India’s infrastructure and industrial development and possesses the ability to grow further due to economic development, industrialisation and urbanisation. Over the coming years, India will continue to be among the fastest-growing countries in terms of construction output, and technology intervention will be a key component of this. Initiatives like smart cities, expansion of metro and road network throughout the country are few examples for that. All of these are opportunity areas for Autodesk. Autodesk technologies such as BIM can add significant value to such policy vision, and Autodesk is excited about it.
X-factorThere are several factors governing the market. The government’s openness towards the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model is of significance here as this industry requires huge amount of investment which would require help from the private firms in the country as well as outside. The recent interest shown by countries like Singapore, France, Dubai and Russia to invest in the smart city project and other projects is a meaningful step in that direction. Emergence of India as a key investment area is opening up rather enriching avenues for the industry. Indian construction market is expected to be the world’s third largest by 2020 doubling to $ 649.5 billion by 2020 from $ 360 billion in 2010.
Autodesk in IndiaThere’s tremendous momentum in India in terms of policy initiatives and business environment to develop the construction and infrastructure sector. In India, 3D design technology is the way to move forward. Its BIM is an integrated process enabled by Autodesk software Revit which helps engineers, builders and owners explore a project’s key physical and functional characteristics digitally before it is built, which helps them gain valuable insight improve the way projects are planned, designed, built and managed. BIM is already being adopted widely and also mandated in developed economies. When Autodesk looks at the current market environment, Autodesk is a world leader in 3D design.
Being differentIn a market like India, which is highly competitive and dynamic, Autodesk strives to increase its competitive separation by investing in research and development, allowing it to bring new innovations to the market and create new versions of existing products that offer compelling efficiencies. Its BIM helps the designer gain valuable insight by allowing users to construct “smart” and “computable” 3D model of the project, thereby enabling them to improve the way projects are planned, designed, built and managed.
Autodesk believes that it differentiates itself in the market by continuing with its strong focus on developing innovative, best-in-class and most evolved technology which helps in solving the real-world design problems and make it a better place to live in.

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